Understanding hydrological flow in karst to improve paleoclimate modelling of speleothems in SE Australia
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Date
2012-01-31
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian Meterological & Oceanographic Society
Abstract
Paleoclimate studies are an important tool to aid our current knowledge and understanding of past climatic
conditions. This in turn can be used to make informed predictions about future climate change and improve
natural resource management. In the last decade, paleoclimate research using speleothems has increased.
Methods have been established and it has been demonstrated that they may be applied to successfully
reconstruct paleoclimate records from stalagmites (Tan et. Al., 2003; Treble et. Al., 2003; Trouvet et. Al.,
2009; Jex et. Al., 2011).
A key parameter in the successful reconstruction of speleothem-based paleoclimate archives is the
understanding of the karst hydrology influencing drip water that leads to calcite deposition (Baldini et. Al.,
2006). The typically non-linear relationship between surface recharge and drip water response is highly
complex and not yet fully understood (Baker and Brunson, 2003). For example McDonald et. Al. (2007)
demonstrated that drips which responded simultaneously to recharge events still exhibited different delivery
mechanisms and in turn exhibited discharge responses. To improve speleothems as a climate proxy, long term cave monitoring in two hydrologically different field
sites in SE Australia (Wellington and Yarrangobilly caves) is being conducted. Drip water hydrology over a
variety of flow regimes was characterised using over 30 drip water loggers. Distinct flow regimes and spatial
variability were observed, indicating that drip waters experienced a wide variety of flow paths. It was evident
that even over small spatial variations; surface to groundwater connectivity was considerably heterogeneous.
To enhance the drip water study, a novel application was introduced to the cave monitoring program which
used micro-temperature loggers to monitor heat signals in drip waters. This study is still in its infancy but
has the potential to enhance current monitoring programs and produce greater information regarding flow
regimes in speleothem formation.
Description
Keywords
Hydrology, Caves, Australia, Climates, Water, Groundwater recharge, Ground water, Monitoring
Citation
Markowska. M., Baker, A., Jex. C., Treble, P. Anderson. M. S., & Graham. P. (2012). Understanding hydrological flow in karst to improve paleoclimate modelling of speleothems in SE Australia. Paper presented at the AMOS 18th National Conference, "connections in climate systems", University of New South Wales, Sydney, 31 Jan - 3 Feb 2012.